Brendan Rodgers: Strength In Depth Key Ahead of Busy Schedule

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Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool have the bench strength to cope up with the gruelling schedule in the next few days.

The Reds face a tricky week in their season starting with Saturday’s visit to face Newcastle United, followed by the Champions League fixture on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid before hosting league leaders Chelsea at Anfield four days later.

Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the campaign so far but Rodgers is confident that his side will rise to the occasion during this critical phase of the season.

“It’s a really exciting week, and that’s the key,” he said. “Newcastle will be a tough game, but one that we will relish. And that’s the only focus really, we will look to get the three points and go from there.”

“It’s why we strengthened the squad, for weeks like this. We made nine changes from the team against Hull to the team against Swansea on Tuesday, and come out with a victory.”

“We will come into the Newcastle game with big confidence. We had an excellent result the other night, and we played as well as we’ve done all season in the first half.”

Rodgers praised the characters of the players who came in the squad for the Carling cup victory on Tuesday and felt it was a reflection of the depth possessed by his side this year.

“A couple of years ago, we made a lot of changes for a League Cup game (also against Swansea) and were comprehensively beaten. On Tuesday we made nine changes, won the game and are into the quarter finals. We’ll look to take that confidence into the game at the weekend.”

Liverpool will once again miss the services of Daniel Sturridge for Saturday’s match and he will be joined on the sidelines by Jon Flanagan and Jose Enrique. Liverpool have looked sluggish in the final third this season but Rodgers says he saw some encouraging signs from the players on the pitch last Tuesday.

“With Daniel out, it’s a miss, but it’s also an opportunity. We saw the other night, we gave opportunities to those who haven’t featured so much, and they were outstanding.”

“Fabio Borini was excellent , a real threat and put a wonderful cross in for the first goal. Lucas Leiva hasn’t played much, but came in and was excellent alongside Jordan Henderson. Rickie Lambert hasn’t had many opportunities, but had some nice touches, and young Markovic played on the left hand side, we have big confidence in him.

“Those players will get their chance, and we’re confident they can take that chance.”

Liverpool currently sit in eighth place, just two points adrift of the top four, despite their difficult start to the season – which has already seen them suffer three defeats.